Citroen C3 power steering problem. Diagnsoing and fixing the issue

Citroen C3 is one of the most popular super-mini cars in Europe now and many people love these vehicles. Unfortunately, they still come with their share of problems. One of the common issues with two recent generations of the C3 was the faulty power steering. Most obviously this problem showed up in 2009-2011 Citroen C3 and C3 Picasso (the start of the second generation).

The power steering in the Citroen C3 may be faulty because of problems with the 12V battery, alternator, power steering pump, or electrical connections and wiring. This problem may be accompanied by the steering system warning light and several different codes in the ECU.

Here’s what I will tell you in this article:

1. Symptoms of the faulty power steering in the C3.
2. What are the common reasons for the steering issues?
3. How can you try and solve the problem on your own?
4. Will dealers repair your car under warranty?
5. Preventing the problem with the power steering in the C3.
6. Can you drive if the power steering is faulty in your Citroen?

What happens with the C3 when the power steering is faulty?

First of all, you need to know how you can identify the steering system problem in your Citroen. It’s not that hard, by the way.

Here are the symptoms that you may have in your vehicle:

• the steering will become extremely stiff;
• the problem may be permanent or intermittent;
• there may or may not be the power steering warning light on the dash;
• the C3 will most likely not show any error message on the dash.

The symptoms depend on the year and generation of the vehicle. Newer C3 models have more advanced on-board diagnostic systems and can tell you more about the problem. While the second-gen C3 is not as smart and may not show any lights and error messages.

But the stiff steering wheel is hard to ignore. You can barely turn it when the power steering is not working.

What are the most common reasons for power steering failure in the C3?

The Citroen C3 has electric power steering since 2009, so the system is identical in both recent generations. After 2011, the company updated the system and it shows much fewer problems now. But still, I’ve seen the new C3 generation suffering from the faulty steering system.

There are several common issues that can cause power steering problems:

1. Battery issues

In about half of cases, the problem is with the battery. The thing is that the steering pump is connected directly to the battery in these cars. And once the battery loses its voltage and power, the steering may become stiffer. It may happen gradually or for several seconds.

The battery that is over 5 years old should be replaced with a new one. If it’s younger than that, you may check it under load and see if the voltage doesn’t drop too deep. Replacing the battery may solve other minor issues and glitches that may have tortured your vehicle.

2. Alternator problems

The work of the alternator is not only to support every system in your car with power but also to charge the battery. If it fails to maintain the battery in its healthy condition, the battery will quickly degrade and drop its voltage. This will cause issues with the power steering and then with all other electric and electronic units in your vehicle.

The steering may become stiffer gradually, in this case. But the battery management system in the car may sharply cut the power from the steering system, too.

3. Electrical connection problem

This is a very important thing to check. The electronic control unit of the electric power steering system in your C3 has a special clip that connects it to all other units and parts in the car. This clip is located under the hood, it’s not that hard to find. Citroen owners say that the clip easily gets corroded and loses contact. This may lead to intermittent problems with the power steering.

4. Steering system pump problems

Citroen had a recall for several model years of the second-gen C3 and acknowledged the use of faulty parts in the steering mechanism. If the VIN of your car is among the VINs from this recall, you can have the vehicle repaired for free even now.

Other vehicles had the privilege of free repair until they were ten years old. So, if your car is still under 10 years of age, it’s advisable to go to the dealer and check this.

Usually, the electric steering pump may go about 150,000 miles or 240,000 kilometers – the entire life of this vehicle. But sometimes, it may fail prematurely.

DIY solutions right on the road

It’s not that cool to drive your Citroen C3 with extremely stiff steering. So, you will want to check what you can do to get the steering back. My recommendations will not work in 100% of cases. But they may help you avoid calling a tow truck.

So, here’s what you can try doing:

• Disconnect the battery. This will help you reset the control unit of the steering system and it may start working well. At least, for some time.
• Cleaning the connections. Locate the clip that connects the power steering control module and detach it. Clean it with whatever you have access to (but not with liquids). Put it back and see if things change.
• Replace the battery. If you understand that the weak battery is the root of this problem, buy a new 12V battery for your car and install it. This is a simple DIY task that may solve the problem.
• Read and clear the codes. Sometimes, resetting the power steering, it’s enough to clear the current codes. For this, you may need a good OBD2 scanner or any random garage.

If you have more technical skills than an average driver, you may also try inspecting the pump and other mechanisms. But for the majority of drivers, this list of four steps is enough for trying to deal with the problem. More often than not, you will be able to get the power steering back, at least for some time.

Free repair in the dealership

As far as I know, Citroen prolonged the warranty for the electric power steering module to 10 years. But if your car is older than that, you will not get free repairs. The only exception is if the car falls under the recall.

So, I recommend you go to the dealership and ask if they can repair the steering system in your C3 for free. If they want to take money from you, it’s always better to find an independent garage. The price of repair and parts will be at least two or three times lower.

Can you drive with the faulty power steering?

Your Citroen C3 is cool to drive when it works well. But when the power steering is intermittently or permanently faulty, it’s not safe to drive. If you have enough experience as a car driver, you may avoid paying a tow truck and drive to the garage or dealership on your own.

For this, remember the following things:

• your steering will be stiff as crazy and it will be extremely hard to react to the situation on the road;
• you should drive very slowly and you better turn on the emergency lighting (blinkers);
• drive on the side of the road and plan your route through areas with minimal traffic;
• drive directly to the garage or dealership that can help you with the problem;
• never ignore the issue even if the power steering comes back after disconnecting the battery.

It’s important to sort out this problem. Even if the steering wheel is not as stiff as described, driving with such a problem is not recommended. You may get into a car accident and, most likely, you will be charged guilty if the car wasn’t completely OK.

Sometimes, even paying a tow truck or roadside assistance is better than risking and driving such a vehicle.

Can you prevent a power steering fault in the C3?

This problem is pretty common for Citroen vehicles but the C3 has become a champion in power steering issues. Of course, you can’t totally prevent this problem from happening just by maintaining your vehicle properly. The steering module is faulty and isn’t going to live forever. The question is when it is going to show its first problems.

But these actions will help you minimize the chances of encountering this problem in your Citroen:

• watch the battery health – it should always be healthy and ready to go, weak battery is always a risk in modern cars;
• have the power steering system inspected once every two years;
• clean the problematic electric connection on the power steering control module once every year or so;
• don’t ignore the problem with the alternator – they may quickly lead to issues with all other systems and modules;
• immediately go to professionals if your steering becomes stiffer than usual.

Following these tips will most likely save you money and allow you to drive the C3 longer without investing in its expensive repairs.

To wrap up

As you see, the power steering problem is one of the most serious common issues with the Citroen C3. If you ever experience this problem, just try the DIY methods to solve it immediately – I’ve listed them above in the article. If nothing helps, you will need professional assistance. You may try to go to the dealer and ask if your car is under a recall or special service bulletin. If not, better choose an independent garage.

Anyway, the power steering problem in the C3 is almost never connected to the steering mechanism itself. It’s power or connection problems that need to be addressed immediately because driving your Citroen with the stiff steering wheel is pretty dangerous.

If you still have some questions or want to add something, write in the comment section below!